cat shepard

Thank you Sandi. Praying that all is well with Roy.

I will hold off, if you plan to do it Sandi.

Roy! Perhaps trying to do too much, too soon? 🤔

Welcome to the group! I do not believe all the wines du jour and meals are available on HAL ships. I would think most drinks would be, though they might not have the exact brand of liquor.

Thank Rich & Roy for today’s Report & Daily. A brisk 42 here this morning, but luckily yesterday’s wind has died down. It is certainly a lovely clear morning. Roy, hope you continue to feel better. Thank you for keeping up with us, even when not feeling 100%. Gym, Bindi walks, and chores will fill my day. Prayers for all who need our support: Tana, Kathi, Jacqui and Sarah especially. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Hunting Hill 2021 This New Zealand Chardonnay has lots of consumer and critic fans. I might like to try it, but don’t usually gravitate towards Chardonnay. Available from numerous online distributors with prices starting at $50.95. Winemaker Notes Hunting Hill is very distinctive in its terroir typicity, with piercing lemon/lime fruit lift and floral notes on the nose, richness and volume in the mouth followed by lingering acidity and minerality on the finish. This is an absolute classic example of how great the Chardonnay grape can be: A beautifully powerful, yet elegant and complex wine with long term aging ability. JS96 James Suckling This has aromas of flint, toast, jasmine, dried pineapples, lemons and sea shells. Some cardamom and salted butter. Classy and driven, with a medium to full body and tight, sleek layers. Perfumed and bright. Everything in balance.

Smart wool socks, Tevas & jeans here.

Roy glad you had a good night! Thank you for the maps! Now rest!

John, thank you for having Roy’s back & posting today’s Report & Daily! Did you stay up late just to do that? Glad to read that you had a good night, Roy. And I also hope that Rich is enjoying his cruise around the world. His posts make me believe he is. A huge marine layer being blown back out to sea greeted Bindi and I this morning. It was quite windy, but temps were still in the high 50s. Just Zumba, chores and Bindi walks today. @kazu Jacqui, holy cow! What next? Praying that the latest surgery solves the problem and reduces your pain. @grapau27 Graham, praying that Sarah’s treatment goes smoothly and eliminates her pain. Bless you & Pauline for being there for her. Although this looks like a great idea, I would be so afraid I would drop the wine. Prayers for all who need our support, especially Sarah, Kathi, Tana & Jacqui. Get well & stay well everyone- yes this means YOU, Roy! ******** Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, WA I don’t dislike a good Merlot, but I prefer mine in a nice red blend. This one has very good - excellent ratings from critics and consumers. I found numerous online distributors with prices starting at $24.99. 91 Wine Enthusiast Aromas of toast, carob and black raspberry lead to plump fruit and barrel flavors. The bright acid and firm tannins of the vintage provide the frame.

Roy, we got this! Take care of yourself & get better.

Rich & Roy thank you for bringing us today’s Report & Daily! A balmy 64 this morning when Bindi and I headed out. And the sky was so clear. Even the birds were singing happily! Roy thank you for tracking our goings on. Today I start calling companies to schedule estimates for my next project - cleaning and resealing my pool deck pavers. The company who did the original sealing did a horrible job, so this time I am going to be super picky. Then this afternoon is my weekly HIIT class. And of course Bindi will get her regularly scheduled walks in. Prayers for Sarah, Kathi, Tana and Jacqui & all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Craggy Range Pinot Noir Martinborough Aroha Te Muna 2020 A bit elusive, unless you live in Europe, China, Australia or New Zealand. But you might be able to convince your local wine shop to help you buy some. Consumer and critic reviews both say this one might be worth the hassle. But the excellent - superb ratings come with a hefty price tag. Prices - before shipping - start at $87.59. I would love a taste. Distributor notes A complex bouquet and palate with scents and flavours of black currant and dark cherry, wild flowers and red berry fruits then a stone and mineral silty soils quality . Youthful, varietal and complex. Even on day 2 the wine has a youthful taut appeal, flavours reflect the bouquet with a youthful energy and mix of ripe and tart fruits including cherry, cranberry, plum and black currant. An abundance of fine tannins and medium+ acidity, a wine that will continue to develop over the next 3-5 years. This wine presents best on day 2 which is a strong indication that it will age well. Best drinking from 2025 through 2033+.

Happy Birthday Carolyn! May your new year be filled with love, laughter and great health!

Bill Normally I will give everyone a clue, when a wine is only available from the country of origin, but I totally was distracted by my failure to find any reviews from critics, so I forgot to mention that. Here is a link to distributors that might ship to you. I cannot even begin to guess what shipping costs would be. If you have a good relationship with your local wine shoe, they might be willing to help. Good luck. Ann https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/plaisir+de+merle+cab+sauv+paarl+coastal+western+cape+south+africa/2018

Thank you Rich & Roy for giving us today’s Report & Daily! A bit nippier this morning, but the sun is just about to crest the trees, so it will warm up a bit. Roy thank you for keeping our lists! I have an early bone density test rescheduled from two weeks ago when the machine was down. I was so lucky that they called me 10 minutes before I left the house - saving me the wasted trip. Then off to the gym. This evening some friends and I are meeting at the local wine bar. One of their featured wines this week is a blanc Côtes du Rhône. Looking forward to trying it, since I am always on the lookout for a nice white blend. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa My “go to” sites did not provide any info on this wine, but consumers seem to really enjoy it. The most recently released vintage - 2018, will be the easiest to find. Several online distributors with prices starting at $16.35. Distributor notes The grapes were hand-harvested from two Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards at between 24.9° and 25.4° Balling. The grapes were destemmed, then sorted and pumped into stainless steel tanks. The grapes were fermented at 24 °C. The juice was pumped over the skins daily to extract colour, tannins and flavour. On several occasions the juice was emptied from the tanks and then pumped back over the skins of the same tank (rack and return). Once fermentation was completed, the wine was left on the skins for a further 6 -8 days to macerate. The wine was racked off the skins and malolactic fermentation was completed, partially in barrels and in tanks. The diversity of the soils, slopes and elevations is closely linked with the quality of Plaisir de Merle wines. Situated on the east and northeast facing slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, Plaisir de Merle is bordered by the towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. The vineyards for this wine, between 12 and 15 years of age, are all located on the Plaisir de Merle farm on south-eastern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain planted in weathered, decomposed granite soils where high mountain peaks shade the vineyards from the hot, late afternoon sun. This slows down ripening, resulting in wines rich complexity and well-ripened tannins. The wine was then racked and transferred to 300 liter French oak barrels (58% new, 22% 2nd fill and 20% 3rd fill) to mature for 12 to 16 months. Plaisir de Merle Established by the French Huguenots in 1693 on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains between Paarl and Franschhoek, Plaisir Wine Estate is a rare gem. This 974-hectare estate in Simonsberg, Paarl has earned international acclaim for its white and red wines. About 250 hectares are planted with a variety of noble grape cultivars such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Malbec. Winemaker Tim Whitfield attributes producing award-winning wines to being able to work with great fruit coming from a very unique terrain and the invaluable input from his viticulture team. Description Colour: Garnet colour with a glowing edge. Bouquet: Hints of dark blueberry, red currant and a graphitic nuances. Classic expression of Simonsberg Cabernet. Taste: The palate, all be it a full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is well poised and stages an effortless balance between fruit clarity and tannin weight. Flavours mirror the primary aromas and all lead to a layered wine with length and persistent palate presence.

@Cruising-along Carolyn, as expected as Patricia’s passing is, it is still tough. Perhaps family and friends can find solace in the thought they did not have to keep the vigil long. But I still would have been praying for a miracle. Hugs to all. Ann

Happy Birthday, Terry! May your new year be filled with love, laughter and great health!

@Crazy For Cats What a great super power - turning soda water deposits into wine! I am impressed!

Thank you Rich & Roy for bringing us today’s Report & Daily. Very cloudy this morning, but it may just be a thick marine layer. There was quite a breeze when Bindi and I went out earlier. Roy, thank you. You really have taken us all under your wing. Gym, Bindi walks, wrapping up my plumbing project and chores will fill my day. I am not sure I will have time to measure my feet. 🤔 I can just picture Rich rubbing his hands together with glee when he picked that day for us. Prayers for Patricia, Kathi, Sarah, Tana & Jacqui and all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Millton Pinot Noir Gisborne La Cote 2021 This is a tough one. The last vintage of this biodynamic wine with a critic review was the 2018 and that was in May of 2022. If you opt for the 2021 vintage, you might need to give it a few years. But the only distributor for the 2021 vintage is in New Zealand. You have more options for earlier vintages. The 2021 costs $27.63 without shipping, and the easier to find 2020 will cost $34.95 and the shipping is bound to be a bit cheaper. 92 Wine Enthusiast- 2018 vintage tasted in 2022 Like many wines from New Zealand's biodynamic godfather, James Millton, La Cote requires patience. At first pour it's mushroomy and funky, but it changes in the glass and bottle the longer it's open, revealing a complex combo of maraschino cherry, juniper, celery leaf and rose petal. Raspingly dry (a surprise, considering the fruity nose), the palate harmonizes into something elegant and characterful, smudged with charcoal-textured tannins along with a bony frame. A wine entirely inimitable.

Maureen, what a wonderful way to introduce yourself. Welcome!

@Cruising-along Carolyn I am so sorry. Praying that wonderful memories help ease everyone’s pain. The vigil is so difficult for family and friends.

Thank you for checking in! It is important to get older each year. And IMO, this is the perfect place to vent your frustrations with HAL. You might find some people disagree, but at least on this thread we are not only polite - but open-minded. We all learn from each other. You pop in anytime. And good luck on your game!

Thanks Rich & Roy for creating, enhancing & posting the Report & Daily! Cloudy with a colorful sunrise to the South. We did get some rain yesterday, but luckily Bindi’s walks avoided the heavy downpours. Roy, thank you for taking care of us. I am off to the gym, then Aldi. Not sure what else I will do. If the weather is nice, maybe Bindi would like to go on a hike with me. Has anyone seen posts from @MISTER 67? Hope all is well and he is just busy. Prayers for all who need our support, especially Patricia, Sarah, Tana, Kathi and Jacqui. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Arista Pinot Noir Russian River Valley UV-Lucky Well Vineyard 2019 This wine sounds lovely, but sadly is way outside my budget. It is fairly easy to find, and enjoyed by critics and consumers. Online distributor prices start at $82.95. Winemaker Notes #87 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 The UV Lucky Well Pinot Noir is a vibrant expression of Pinot Noir from the ridge that separates the Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. The wines from this ridge tend to have qualities of both regions: intense, bright, wild berry notes brought by the cooling influence of the Pacific, and a broad, rich silkiness and complexity characteristic of the interior valley. This wine is no exception. Explosive wild berry, grilled meat, ripe strawberry, pine needle, raspberry liqueur, and black cherry notes adorn the nose. The palate is intense, rich, and dense, and is balanced by tangy acidity and firm tannins. Flavors of wild blackberries, cola, and spiced cherries mingle with a note of earth and crushed granite for a full minute on the finish. WS93 Wine Spectator Presents gently mulled raspberry, blackberry and blood orange notes that have good energy and tension, with light savory, red tea and mineral details checking in on the finish. Offers nice freshness in the end.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily Rich & Roy! It is a bit cooler - 54 & very cloudy here this morning. Showers are expected later. Bindi has a couple squirrel friends - Fred & Ethel. They may be joined occasionally by a third - Ricky? Lucy? It is fun to see her interact with them. Fred really loves to tease her and make her run around the pool enclosure. Roy, thank you for all you do! I have a couple gym classes, Bindi walks and then a Birthday celebration tonight. You all might want to check your local area to see if the Green Comet will be visible any time near the end of January - beginning of February. The last time it was this close to Earth we were in the Stone Age. Here’s a look back at what was happening on Earth then. I am 99.9% sure this is photoshopped! Prayers for Patricia, Sarah, Tana, Kathi & Jacqui and all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon, California Well consumers think this Cab is good - very good, but the last vintage for which I could find critic reviews was the 2015 vintage - which probably is no longer available. But the 2019 is. Available almost everywhere with prices starting at $10.94. Distributor notes Showcases lush textutre and bold dark fruit flavors with a slight hint of oak and spice. Cedar and tobacco aromas complement integrated lively tannins and fill out your palate, allowing the wine to be consumed on its own or with your favorite food.

Annie, if you could just provide a flow chart…. Hope your office cat does not have a tumor.

Thank you Rich & Roy for today’s Report & Daily! It is 64 and a bit humid here this morning. There is a bit of a marine layer this morning. We have a chance of showers over the next few days. We will see. Roy, thank you again for all you do for us. Just one class and chores. Getting ready for my “traveling Sister’s” birthday celebration tomorrow. And Bindi walks. Prayers for all who need our support: especially Patricia, Sarah, Kathi, Tana and Jacqui. Jacqui, love that pink cast - it is as unique as you. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Stones 2020 Well my search for an SB from this Vintner with “Stones” in the description failed. But they have two SB. Their signature one, a bit more expensive, did not show a 2020 vintage. So that left the Petit Clos SB. Luckily it has great reviews and a very reasonable price - available from quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $15.40. And I am recharging my decoder ring, so it will be ready for the next challenge. Winemaker Notes The 2020 Petit Clos Sauvignon Blanc holds an elegance and finesse thanks to the goldilocks conditions leading up to harvest. Balanced and expressive, top notes of elderflower and citrus blossom with gunflint minerality. Textural, with zingy acidity and a flinty, mineral nuance this wine is both fresh and concentrated WE93 Wine Enthusiast Despite being a lower priced bottle from younger vines than Henri's flagship Sauvignon, this is a delicious and complete drop. Pale gold in hue, it offers layers of aroma and flavor, from lime leaf, pineapple rind, grapefruit, oyster shell, white spice and crushed stones. The play between crunchy acidity and chalky texture, combined with pithy fruit, is hard to resist. A tasty tipple now, it could gain some honeyed complexity with another few years in the bottle. Editors' Choice

Thank you Laura. I totally read it wrong.